Jaren walked her backward until the back of her knees hit the bed, causing her to sit down. He moved with her, adjusting them so they were farther up on the bed, then he placed his hand over her heart.
“Karinna, my
sha-lia
. I want to make love to you so badly.” His words sent shivers of anticipation all over her bare skin.
He settled himself between her thighs, resting his weight on his arms. His mouth descended on hers with a renewed hunger. Kari wrapped her hands around Jaren’s broad shoulders to explore the muscles, letting her fingers glide over his back. His chest pressed down onto hers, his body sliding up and down over hers to create a delicious friction against her sensitive nipples. Kari slung one of her legs over his hip, wanting to feel closer to him. He groaned into her mouth and pressed his lower body closer to hers, letting his hard shaft rub against her slick crotch. He drew back slightly to look into her eyes and moved his hand down between their heated bodies to guide his swollen tip to her opening. Kari closed her eyes as she felt pressure.
“Look at me,
sha-lia
.” Kari opened her eyes and stared into glowing blue as he inched into her.
* * * *
Jaren fought the instinct to drive into her hard. He watched the wonder in her eyes as her untried walls stretched to take his cock. When he reached the thin barrier marking her innocence, he stopped. Lifting his weight on one arm and reaching his other hand between their bodies, he gently rubbed her sensitive clit with his fingers. He needed to make this as painless as possible for her. Kari’s breaths came hard and fast, and she pushed off the bed with her leg, trying to get more pressure. Jaren could feel her climax building as her walls started to convulse. Just before she went over the edge, Jaren pushed into her, breaking her barrier. Her body froze at the sharp pain, and she cried out, but he immediately stroked her clit again, and the pain was forgotten as her orgasm broke over her.
Jaren rode the sensation with her, slowly inching his way inside her tight walls. When he had seated himself fully, he paused, giving her a minute to adjust to the feel of him. He loved the feeling of being buried deep within her. It was better than any sexual encounter he had ever had. As her breathing calmed, he began to slowly withdraw from her. She protested at the emptiness, but he grinned smugly as he reversed course and filled her again.
“Oh, Jaren!” He loved hearing his name on her lips as he slowly pushed his cock into her. He continued the slow movements, thrusting and retreating, until she began to beg.
“Please, more!” Jaren began to thrust in earnest, moving with more urgency as he felt himself hurtling toward his own climax. He had already held himself back longer than he thought possible considering the tightness of her walls and the way they clenched around his cock. He rubbed her clit one last time and they both came hard, her walls contracting tightly around his shaft as his hot cum emptied into her.
In that moment, Jaren felt his heart, his mind, and his life force join with hers, taking part of her into himself and sharing himself with her. They were now truly part of each other, and nothing could ever separate them. His beast roared its pleasure, knowing it would now be free. With shouts of joy, their shared climax permanently sealed the bond between them.
Kari awoke with the feeling of a hand gliding softly over her skin, around her waist, and up to her breast. She grinned and snuggled backward into the warm body behind her, giggling softly when her bottom pressed up against a hard bulge. Jaren was insatiable. Based on the talks her mother had given her about sex, she had expected Jaren to fall asleep after the first time. Kari didn’t know if Jaren’s actions were normal for his people, but if this was normal, then the women on his planet must be exhausted all the time. Exhausted and very, very happy. After the third time the night before, she had told him she didn’t think she could take anymore. After the fourth time, she had begged for mercy. They both finally fell into a blissed-out heap after the fifth.
Her mind was still having a hard time believing she could have a future with this incredible man, but her body and her heart were telling her mind to shut up. Maybe, just maybe, it would be possible to lead a quiet anonymous life with Jaren, away from her father’s eyes. She felt a small spark of hope ignite in her heart.
Jaren nuzzled against her neck. “Good morning, my
sha-lia
.” He nibbled her ear and ran his tongue along the sensitive flesh behind it. “You taste so good, Karinna.”
She twisted in his arms so that she could look into his eyes, while her hand strayed down his chest. He sucked in a sharp breath as she continued her journey over his abdomen and took his aroused cock in her hand. She marveled at the silky-smooth skin that covered his shaft and the way it seemed to heat under her hand. She had no idea how a man liked to be touched, but she was curious and wanted to explore. She moved her hand over his shaft to the base, drawing out a low growl from him. She froze, afraid she did something he didn’t like. She looked in his eyes and instead of disapproval, she saw yearning. Encouraged by his reaction, she stroked her hand back up his cock to the engorged head, running her thumb around the slit.
“Ah, love, yes.” His voice was ragged with desire. She realized that she held power over this enormous warrior. The knowledge was a heady feeling and gave her more confidence. Jaren rolled over onto his back, giving Kari better access to him.
The door chimed. Jaren let out a frustrated roar that echoed off the metal walls of the room. Throwing the blanket over Kari’s naked body, he bolted out of bed and stalked to the door, not bothering to clothe himself. He slammed his hand on the sensor pad by the door with such force that the wall shook.
“What?”
The man standing in the doorway was almost as big as Jaren. His eyes widened at seeing Jaren unclothed, and then he directed his eyes downward to stare at the floor. Kari assumed he didn’t want to be accused of ogling his superior officer’s naked mate. The man crossed his right arm across his chest, his fist closed. Kari guessed it was their version of a military salute.
“My sincere apologies, My Lord. There is a communication from the king. Your presence is requested immediately.”
Jaren looked at Kari with concern in his eyes before turning back to the other man. “I’ll be there momentarily.”
“Yes, My Lord.” The man bowed formally at the waist before turning to leave, never once looking up. The door slid closed. Jaren stood motionless for a moment before walking over to the closet and quickly pulling on trousers and a shirt, along with his boots.
“I need to go to the bridge. Please stay here, and I will return as soon as possible.” He stopped on his way to the door. Turning around, he strode to the bed and wrapped Kari in his arms. His lips possessed her mouth in a devastating kiss. When he broke the kiss and pulled back, his eyes were glowing.
“I love you, Karinna.” Then he stalked out the door and Kari was alone.
* * * *
Kari stared at the closed door as the small spark of hope that had ignited in her heart turned to ice. Whoever Jaren was, he wouldn’t be able to settle down into an anonymous life with her. Not if he was a lord. If he were close enough to the king of his homeworld to be receiving communications from him, then he would not be able to just disappear. Which meant she would not be able to stay with him. At least, not without putting him in danger. She choked back a sob as she realized how much the thought of leaving him hurt. Something inside of her had changed last night. Somehow, she was now connected to him. The thought of putting him in danger was unbearable, but running away from him seemed almost as bad.
Kari didn’t know how long she sat there, but she finally got out of bed and went into the sanitizer room to clean up. The sanitizing beams did nothing to calm her raw nerves. She wished she could take a hot water shower to sooth her tense muscles and warm her suddenly chilled body. She stepped out of the sanitizing stall and brushed out her hair, then dressed in the trousers and shirt Jaren had purchased for her at the space station.
She didn’t want to think about what had happened with Bores. He had come so close to taking her. If Jaren had not come in time… She shuddered, deciding that she was not going to dwell on that. She had other things to worry about right now.
The trousers Jaren had bought for her were either made for a male or a very tall female. She had to roll them up to keep from stepping on them and she found a leather strap that she could use as a belt to keep them from falling down. The shirt was too big as well and almost touched her knees, but with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows it at least served its function. It wasn’t fancy, but that suited her just fine.
She went to the food dispenser and ordered a much-needed cup of caf. The warm cup in her hands felt like the only warmth in her whole body. There was a comfortable leather armchair next to the small desk on the other side of the room from the bed. Kari settled herself in the chair with her legs curled under her and waited for Jaren to return.
It was time for them to have a talk. She accepted the fact that she had, without a doubt, fallen completely in love with him, even though they had only known each other for a few days. But what her heart wanted would not be possible if it meant putting Jaren in danger. She fought back the tears that wanted to spill from her eyes and tried to resign herself to the knowledge that her heart was likely about to be broken. Her heart, however, kept trying to convince her that the situation might not be as bad as she feared. That small hope kept trying to thaw out and flare back to life.
It felt like an eternity before the door slid open and Jaren appeared. Kari didn’t say anything as he stopped to look at her with a weary expression on his handsome face, and then he turned to the food dispenser to retrieve his own cup of caf. He took a long drink before turning to face her, and then he leaned back against the wall, looking down into his cup.
“Who are you, Jaren?” Kari meant the words to come out hard and demanding, but all she could manage was a whisper.
Jaren’s jaw tightened as he continued to stare into his cup. Finally, he raised his eyes to hers and took a deep breath. “I am High Prince Jaren, first heir to the throne of Aldryss.”
Kari went numb. Her mind reeled at Jaren’s declaration. She felt like she couldn’t breathe, her chest felt constricted. She thought her heart might actually stop beating, or even explode, the pain and shock was so great. It was much, much worse than she feared. He wasn’t just a superior officer in some military on a distant planet. He wasn’t even just a titled lord.
Of all the ships Kari could have gotten on, she had to get on the one carrying a blasted future king! And then she had to go and fall in love with him!
Kari swore—not a normal occurrence, but nothing about this situation was normal. Jaren raised his eyebrows at the outburst but remained silent. Kari just continued to gape at him, processing the implications of his birthright. Now she knew for certain there was no way she could stay with him and avoid her father’s attention. Knowing her father, he would stop at nothing to make her pay for defying him, including declaring war on another planet. She couldn’t allow that to happen. Her life wasn’t worth an entire planet.
Trying to be strong, she met Jaren’s hard look with one of her own and put as much steel as she could muster into her voice. “You have to take me back.”
“No.”
Kari blinked, then glared at him in shock. “You have no idea what my father is capable of. He would kill you and everyone you know for defying him.”
“He can try.” Jaren’s voice was calm, like he wasn’t even worried about it.
Kari couldn’t believe Jaren’s cavalier attitude. He obviously had no idea what the stakes would be if she didn’t return to Montore. She was going to have to educate him.
“Dammit, Jaren! You don’t get it, do you?” Kari demanded as she slammed her cup down on the desk, sloshing out the liquid, and stalked toward Jaren. She poked her finger forcefully at his chest, emphasizing each word. “You. Can’t. Win. This. Fight!”
In one motion, Jaren threw his cup across the room and grabbed Kari by the waist, spinning them around so that her back was to the wall. He had both of her wrists captured in one of his big hands, pinning them above her, with his hard body pressed against hers. Kari wasn’t sure how he had managed to move so quickly.
“You doubt my ability to protect you?” His voice was harsh and demanding. Kari was stunned by the speed and roughness of his response. Rather than being offended by it, Kari found herself responding in a completely unexpected way. She shivered and felt heat spread through her body. Her breathing became shallow, and she licked her lips nervously. Jaren inhaled deeply, and she knew he could smell her wet desire.
“No.” Kari’s voice was breathless. “I don’t doubt you. But I can’t let you put yourself or your people in danger for me.”
“My Karinna, even now two of your brothers are on their way to Aldryss to demand your return and escort you back to Montore. You will not be going back. My people will defend a
sha-lia
with their lives. You will not persuade us to do otherwise.”
“Do I get a say in this?” If he was going to be stubborn, then so could she.
“No.” His lips descended on hers with a crushing intensity that left nothing else to discuss.
He dominated her mouth with a ferocity that took her breath away and almost made her forget what they were arguing about. Kari was helpless against the onslaught of his lips and his probing tongue. With a moan, she surrendered to him and the desires of her traitorous body. She leaned into him, and Jaren growled his pleasure. With his free hand, he untied the belt at Kari’s waist and let her pants fall to her ankles. He unfastened his trousers and shoved them over his hips, his erect cock springing free and providing evidence of his desire. He placed his hand under her ass and hoisted her up effortlessly. The loose pants around her ankles fell to the floor. Taking the hint, Kari wrapped both legs around his waist and locked her ankles at his back. Without hesitating, Jaren slammed his hard shaft inside of her. Both of them cried out at as he seated himself fully in one thrust. He pulled almost all the way out and then pounded back into her, sliding against her slick walls. He slammed into her again and again. He gave her no mercy as she cried out with each thrust.